Author: Dick Mangrum

The men and women who make up the ranks of the Walhalla police now wear black.  According to the police department announcement, the switch to black not only increases comfort, but the new uniforms look good.

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) announced today the detection of one case associated with the SARS-CoV-2 variant that first emerged in the United Kingdom. Viruses are constantly changing, and the new versions are called variants. Variants are closely monitored for their ability to spread faster or cause more disease. South Carolina public health officials were […]

The month of January finished with an additional 2,649 new confirmed South Carolina cases of COVID-19, including 38 cases from Oconee County.  Statewide there were 23 deaths; none of them reported among Oconeeans.  The test results from the state were 12,368; the positivity was 21.4%.

New SC cases:  3,112; new Oconee cases, 56; New deaths statewide:  37 Of 12,443 test results received statewide the positivity was 25%.  

A teenager died this week from Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) associated with COVID-19. This is the first death in the state related to MIS-C reported to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). A 17-year-old in the Upstate region died from MIS-C on Jan. 27. To protect the privacy of the child and the family, […]

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office has issues with the 864-638-4111 non-emergency phone number in the E-911/Communications Center.  Emergency 911 services are currently operating normally and are not affected.   According to Captain Travis Tilson, AT&T is working on the problem.   At the present time, citizens can contact the Sheriff’s Office for non-emergency calls at 864-638-4114, 864-638-4115 or 864-638-4116.  Once […]

Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) has added a new phone information line to answer questions about COVID-19 vaccines and to help support people searching for vaccine provider information. COVID-19 Vaccine Information Line: 1-866-365-8110 The new vaccine information line launches today with 240 phone operators and is available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week. People […]

On the night of Monday, February 15, Walhalla planning commissioners will meet to talk about potential changes in the city zoning law, including whether the rules covering political signs should be changed.  Other agenda items include design guidelines for residential neighborhoods and definitions and zoning designations for tiny homes and container homes.  The meeting will be 6 pm at the […]

Smoke from a prescribed burn could be visible in parts of Oconee, with residual smoke lingering into afternoon and evening.  The Andrew Pickens Ranger District plans a 250-acre prescribed burn around the Cedar Creek Rifle Range Road.  This burn is aimed at wildlife habitat improvement, research and hazardous fuels reduction.